Scotland faces being outside the EU for at least three years if it becomes independent after the new president of the European Commission yesterday called for a halt to enlargement of the 28-state organisation.

Jean-Claude Juncker effectively vetoed Alex Salmond’s plan for a separate Scotland to enjoy a seamless transition to membership in its own right outside the UK. Mr Juncker, who was appointed on Monday, announced in his political guidelines that the EU needed to “take a break” from expansion for five years and consolidate what had already been achieved by the existing 28 member states.